August 17, 2015

the secret diaries of charlotte bronte

HELLO my friends! I'm so sorry I didn't have a Friday Cool Stuff post up for you last week - Julia and I went to California to visit some old family friends. We had a lovely time, but I really don't know how the Californians do it - it was SO HOT. A friend of mine told me on Facebook, that really, we shouldn't consider ourselves heat wimps, but just 'highly advanced people' with an extra refined survival sense. It was so hot.

I have been busily compiling books for the past couple months, thinking I was going to get a Summer Reading List up and that never happened. Then I was going to write an End of Summer Reading Listand that too is seeming unlikely. How about Cozy Books to Read This Fall? Does that sound nice? I think it does. I'll see if my husband will provide some Very Helpful Commentary.

But here's something. I was going to to put it on my list, but I took it on my trip and began reading it, and I was trying to think of a post for today and so here you go. 'The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte' by Syrie James is just FABULOUS and I've been tearing through it at a great pace. It's wonderful! I've had such bad luck finding a book that will really hold my attention and this one is performing that task marvelously well, I'm really delighted with it.

If you're a fan of Brit Lit, or All Things Period English, you will adore. Especially if you're a Bronte fan. (hey Bronte fans, how excited are you about this news??) The book's story is based on a great deal of research gleaned from biographies and communications written by Charlotte Bronte herself to her best friend Ellen Nussey - some five hundred letters that were written over a 24 year period. The entire book written by James is based on historical fact and it's just riveting. I've been reading it every chance I get.

I realized that a lot of the books I'm putting together for my Autumn Reading List have a similar theme somewhat, and this book also definitely fits within the genres of those other books. Once the kiddo is back in school, I'll get that post up I SWEAR. I am so ready for fall. I mean, I'm always ready for fall, but I'm REALLY ready. That California heat scared the tar out of me and I just want to be cold and wear sweaters. Let's revisit this topic again in January, shall we? When it's miserable and grey and depressing?

I am a huge fan of ANY reading list-you could name it "Just Because..." and I would be thrilled. Speaking of books, I have my second shipment of Pioneer Girl from Amazon, the first book had crimped pages and oily fingerprints on the dust cover. The second just has the oily fingerprints. I am stymied by this, how is this happening? Seriously, I enacted a whole CSI episode looking at the fingerprints. I googled this, but haven't seen any one reporting this problem, am I the only one?

I guess I should stop trying to get the deal, and spring for actual bookstore prices at Barnes and Noble.

Sorry about the vent--but as fellow book lovers, I imagine you can feel my pain!

hahaha! i'm with you - any book list is usually a book list I'm interested in, LOL. WHAT is up with your poor copies of Pioneer Girl??? That's awful. How bizarre! I got mine from a bookstore and it was perfect. It was also way more than what Amazon is selling it for.....:(

That book DESERVES to be in pristine condition. I hope you get a beautiful copy!

Meet Melissa

I'm the creator of Julia's Bookbag and Julia's Book Boxes. Ask me about ordering the current book surprise box! Vintage, current, and unique book finds are my passion, along with treats, teas, and all things cozy.